The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first fruit-flavored vaping products for adults has triggered criticism from pediatricians and anti-tobacco advocacy groups worried about rising youth nicotine addiction.
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized four vaping devices made by Glas for adults 21 and older. The approved flavors include menthol varieties as well as “gold” mango and “sapphire” blueberry pods.
Pediatricians Warn of Youth Appeal
The decision marks a notable shift for the FDA, which has long argued that flavored vaping products can attract minors.
Marty Makary previously said there were no approved “fruity” flavored vaping products in the U.S. because of concerns over youth addiction.
Following the announcement, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged federal officials to reconsider the authorization.
AAP President Andrew Racine said fruit-flavored products could increase youth vaping, noting studies show flavors are a major reason teenagers begin using nicotine products.
Advocacy Groups Criticize Decision
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids also criticized the FDA’s move, arguing it could reverse progress made in reducing teen vaping rates nationwide.
Organization President Yolonda C. Richardson accused regulators of ignoring scientific evidence linking flavored products to youth nicotine use.
FDA Defends Authorization
An FDA spokesperson said the agency continues to crack down on illegal vaping products targeting minors while also expanding options for adult smokers seeking alternatives to traditional cigarettes.
Federal law still prohibits the sale of vaping products to anyone under 21.
For the latest health guidelines and regulation changes, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.
French authorities have placed eight additional people in hospital isolation after they were exposed to a passenger linked to the recent hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the eight French nationals shared a flight with an infected passenger about 15 days ago. None of them are currently showing symptoms, but officials are monitoring them as a precaution.
Patient in Stable Condition
The new cases add to five French citizens who were already isolated after returning from the cruise ship to France on Sunday. Those individuals are being treated at Bichat Hospital in Paris.
According to officials, four of the five continue to test negative for hantavirus. One patient tested positive and remains in intensive care but is reported to be in stable condition.
Cruise Ship Outbreak Sparks International Concern
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has prompted health authorities across several countries to trace passengers and monitor potential exposures. The ship recently docked in Spain’s Canary Islands after reports of illness among travelers.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease typically spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and breathing difficulties in severe cases.
French health officials said isolation measures are being used out of caution as investigations into the outbreak continue.
Justice Samuel Alito extended an administrative stay Monday that was set to expire the same day. The order will now remain in effect until Thursday at 5 p.m. ET. Alito did not provide an explanation for the extension.
Legal Battle Over Mifepristone Continues
The Supreme Court is reviewing an emergency request from pharmaceutical companies seeking to block a lower court ruling that would restrict mifepristone from being prescribed through telehealth appointments or mailed to patients.
The case was originally brought by the state of Louisiana, where abortion is largely banned. State officials argue federal regulators failed to fully evaluate safety risks when they removed the requirement for in-person doctor visits before prescribing the medication.
Drug Remains Widely Used
Abortion rights advocates, medical groups, and drug manufacturers maintain that extensive safety reviews were completed and note that mifepristone has a lower rate of serious complications than medications such as penicillin or Viagra.
Mifepristone became a major focus of legal disputes after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. In 2024, the court unanimously rejected a separate challenge to the drug, ruling the plaintiffs lacked legal standing.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortions accounted for nearly two-thirds of abortions in 2023. Mifepristone is commonly used with misoprostol for abortions and miscarriage management during early pregnancy.
SPRING, Texas (KTRK) — The Spring Branch ISD board has voted unanimously to close Northbrook Middle School for the next school year on Monday evening.
During the district board meeting, the motion to close Northbrook Middle School passed 7-0.
Last week, ABC13 reported, citing our media partners at the Houston Chronicle, that the district itself said it is short $24 million in its budget, and in response, schools came under scrutiny for their operations.
Northbrook, according to the Texas Education Agency, received an ‘F’ rating for the year and saw a 300-student enrollment dip from the 2023-2024 school year to the previous school year.
This would not be the first school to close in Spring Branch ISD due to budget deficits. Back in 2023, after a vote of 6-1, Treasure Forest Elementary and Panda Path School for Early Learning. The move was to help cushion a $35 million shortfall, according to the district.
If the closure is approved, officials said this will be the fourth campus in the district where the majority of Hispanic and working-class families live. Residents are citing that the move is unequal because their area receives less support than those in wealthier neighborhoods.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities said two people were rushed to the hospital on Sunday after a crash involving a passenger vehicle and an Amtrak train in northeast Harris County.
According to the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, the crash happened on Lockwood Road between West Lake Houston Parkway and East Sam Houston Parkway.
Officials said the driver of the vehicle disregarded the crossing arms that were in the down position. Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigators said an Amtrak train was approaching and honked its horn before the vehicle inched across the tracks. The car was then hit by the train going 60 miles per hour, authorities said.
According to Sheldon Community Fire & Rescue, the Amtrak train conductor tried to assist following the crash, but was confronted by at least four alligators in the water nearby. Sheldon Fire Chief Sidney Webb said the alligators were four and a half to five feet long and were most likely attracted to the movement in the weeds before being scared off.
HCSO officials said they did not see any alligators at the scene but added there were “no obstructions with the environment.”
The male driver and a young passenger, between the ages of 10 and 12, were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to officials. Initial investigation indicates that the two are father and son. HCSO officials said they are still investigating whether the driver was possibly intoxicated.
Investigators are now sharing an important safety message for drivers regarding railroad crossings.
“You should always be mindful when crossing tracks, whether or not there is a train or lights are on,” Alex Kampf with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said. “Some tracks don’t have warnings. Here in Harris County, the tracks have warning, and you shall yield to the signal, train horns, and lights, etc. It’s very dangerous. The kinetic energy and momentum from the train, you’re unlikely to walk away unscathed.”
Authorities said no one on the Amtrak train was injured in the crash. According to officials, the train was coming from California and was headed to New Orleans.
Pct. 3 said an investigation is underway. Authorities had advised motorists to expect traffic delays and to use alternate routes where possible.
ABC13 reached out to Amtrak about the incident and is waiting for a statement.
This is a developing story. Eyewitness News is continuing to gather facts.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A person was removed from the roof of Cummings Elementary School just before 8 a.m. on Monday, according to the Houston Police Department.
According to the Alief Independent School District, the school was placed on lockdown once it was determined that a man, who was non-Alief ISD personnel, was on the roof.
At one point, HPD said the man remained seated on the edge of the school before being safely removed by first responders.
AISD said students and faculty were unharmed at the time and that the school day would resume as normal.
SkyEye13 was above the scene following the incident, where officers could be seen directing cars in front of the school as others worked to clear the scene.
It is unclear why the man was on top of the building or if charges would be filed.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It’s drier and breezy for Monday, after showers and thunderstorms marched through the area Sunday night into Monday morning.
Monday will be drier and breezy with the chance for a few showers and isolated storms to pop up during the afternoon. We’ll see more clearing into the afternoon to allow for temperatures to warm back up into the mid 80s, but it likely wont feel as hot and humid outside as what we had over the weekend.
It’s been quite rainy lately. Is any more rain expected this week?
This week starts off fairly dry once the front clears early Monday morning. Rain chances will stay very low throughout the week with higher moisture levels not returning until the weekend. So overall the work week is on the drier side, but it’ll definitely be warming up.
How about these 90-degree days we saw over the weekend. Any more of those?
Given that average high temperatures in mid-May are usually in the mid 80s, our warmest days are going to trend to be close to 90-degrees and likely with a heat index that’ll make it feel that warm. Later this week we’ll get a taste of summer once again as a heat dome slides over the state, keeping afternoon highs in the upper 80s or low 90s beginning Wednesday through the weekend. Mornings could be especially warm and muggy too by Friday in the mid 70s.
What’s the latest on drought conditions with all this rain?
We continue to see improvements! In fact, most of Houston and Harris County are now drought-free, and the intensity has lessened all across Southeast Texas. With more rain the forecast these next few days, we should see continued reductions in drought conditions across the region.
Officials said both travelers are being transported to the United States on a specialized aircraft equipped with biocontainment units “out of an abundance of caution.”
Patients Headed to Specialized Treatment Centers
According to HHS, the plane carrying 18 MV Hondius passengers will first stop at the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The passenger who tested PCR positive for hantavirus and the symptomatic traveler will undergo medical evaluations upon arrival. The mildly symptomatic patient will later be transferred to a second specialized treatment center.
Health Officials Continue Precautionary Measures
Federal health officials said both individuals will receive clinical assessments and appropriate medical care based on their condition.
The developments come as authorities continue monitoring potential hantavirus exposure linked to the cruise ship outbreak. Officials have not released additional details about the patients or the severity of symptoms.
The complaint, filed in California federal court, seeks at least $15 million in damages. According to court documents, Samsung allegedly displayed a copyrighted photo of the Grammy-winning singer on cardboard TV boxes sold in stores across the United States.
Claims of Copyright Infringement
Lipa’s legal team claims the company used her likeness to help market and sell Samsung televisions. The lawsuit alleges the image was taken during the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Attorneys for the singer said Samsung continued using the packaging despite repeated requests to stop.
The filing also argues the unauthorized image may have influenced customer purchases, citing one consumer who reportedly bought a television after seeing Lipa featured on the box.
Singer Says Brand Partnerships Are Carefully Chosen
The lawsuit emphasizes that Lipa is selective about the brands she works with and would not have approved the alleged endorsement.
Her legal team stated that the singer has built a premium public image through carefully chosen sponsorships and partnerships, making the alleged unauthorized use especially damaging.
Samsung Yet to Respond
Neither Dua Lipa nor Samsung Electronics immediately commented publicly on the lawsuit.
Samsung has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
Community members, elected officials and health care leaders gathered in Pasadena to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Legacy Community Health’s new Southmore Clinic, a major expansion aimed at increasing access to affordable health care in one of the region’s fastest-growing communities.
Located at 1951 Southmore Ave., the new two-story, 37,000-square-foot facility will provide integrated care services under one roof, including adult and pediatric primary care, OB-GYN services, behavioral health care, X-ray imaging and wraparound support services. Dental and pharmacy services are also expected to open later in 2026.
Legacy Community Health CEO Robert Palussek said the clinic represents the organization’s mission to address longstanding health care gaps in underserved communities.
“We’re here for the grand opening ribbon cutting of our new Pasadena Southmore Clinic,” Palussek said during the event. “With this work together, we’re going to hopefully transform the health of this community.”
Pasadena faces significant health care challenges, with nearly one in three residents uninsured. According to Legacy officials, uninsured rates among children in the area are more than double the national average.
“Unfortunately, we also have some challenges here in Pasadena,” Palussek said. “One out of three residents does not have health care insurance. And if you look at the child statistics, they are twice as bad compared to national averages.”
Credit: Daniel Ortiz
The clinic was made possible through a partnership with Houston Methodist, which contributed a transformational investment of more than $50 million supporting new health care facilities in Pasadena and Acres Homes.
“At Houston Methodist, serving our communities is at the heart of what we do,” said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist. “The Legacy Pasadena Southmore Clinic represents years of thoughtful collaboration to better meet the needs of families in Pasadena and the surrounding area.”
Boom also emphasized the importance of expanding access to quality care for underserved residents.
“We exist to meet a care need for underserved clients,” Boom said. “That’s why we’re here, to provide care and fill those gaps and give access — and not only access to people who are underserved and need health care — but quality care, quality access.”
The facility was designed by Kirksey Architects and built by Harvey Cleary Builders. Officials said the clinic is expected to handle approximately 80,000 appointments annually and will continue growing as additional services come online. More than 50 staff members are currently employed at the clinic, with plans to expand to more than 80 employees in the future.
The clinic will also serve as a training site for Houston Methodist’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
Robert Palussek, CEO Legacy Community Health and Marc L. Boom, M.D. President and CEO, Houston Methodist. Credit: Daniel Ortiz
“We’re very excited that our training program, our family medicine training program at Houston Methodist, has moved here as well,” Boom said. “So not only are we helping people, but we are also helping train the physicians of tomorrow.”
Dr. Rachel Scott, one of the OB-GYN physicians serving the new clinic, said the facility is designed to provide comprehensive care for the entire family in one convenient location.
“Pasadena is an amazing community and it’s a very diverse community, very fast growing,” Scott said. “Right now, Legacy is focusing on health beyond care, meaning providing care for the whole person, for the whole family, regardless of their ability to pay.”
Legacy officials stressed that affordability remains central to the organization’s mission. The clinic accepts Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and most private insurance plans, while also offering a sliding-scale fee structure for uninsured patients.
“At Legacy, we believe healthcare is a right and not a privilege,” Palussek said. “We treat everybody equally, regardless their ability to pay. High quality healthcare services should not be driven by the insurance card that you have in your wallet.”
Legacy Community Health is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Texas, operating more than 60 locations throughout the Gulf Coast region. For more than four decades, the organization has focused on expanding access to comprehensive health care services for underserved communities.
Officials also highlighted excitement surrounding another upcoming Legacy facility planned for Houston’s Acres Homes neighborhood.
“We are so excited for the upcoming Acres Homes facility,” Palussek said.
For more information about Legacy Community Health and services offered at the Pasadena Southmore Clinic, visit Legacy Community Health’s website.
